VIA VANCOUVER BAGGAGE HANDLERS NO LONGER DELIVER LUGGAGE TO SLEEPERS ON TRAIN 2

[Greg Menard lastredcap-FFYn/[e-mail] [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]]

Hi, sorry for not reporting this news sooner. For years at Via Rail's Vancouver Pacific Central Station the Via baggage room employees have delivered luggage to the sleeping car accommodations on eastbound train #2 The Canadian. About 2 weeks ago, the Vancouver baggage room staff were told by Via management to no longer provide this service. The reason given to the baggage room employees was 'no other station but us does this, so why should we continue to do it?'. The only exception is for disabled sleeper passengers, or for 'Prestige Class' passengers ( when the rebuilt 'Laurentide Park' is in 'Prestige' service). This is another unpleasant surprise and disappointment that Via sleeper passengers encounter when they board The Canadian in Vancouver ( other letdowns are no dining car service
upon the train's departure, the rather cramped and mediocre Panorama lounge and patio, no decent food outlets in the station, the drug addict filled area the depot's
in, discovering the station has Greyhound busses and their downmarket passengers in it, etc). When sleeping car passengers now ask to have their luggage taken to their rooms, they are told it can't be done, and are offered the choice of paying to store the bags and pick them up later to carry them on themselves, or offered a self serve airport type cart to wheel their own gear down to the train. Imagine if you had paid big bucks to stay at a hotel, got to reception, and asked for someone to take your luggage to your room, and you were told by the hotel that they can't provide that service. I think that Via Rail management is taking a page from the Southern Pacific's ( or whatever 1960s era anti-passenger railroad you like)handbook on how to tick off and annoy your passengers!
Cheers
Greg Menard Vancouver B.C.


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Posted by: Greg Menard <lastredcap-FFYn/***@public.gmane.org>
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[[e-mail] [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]]

Having used this service for the past 6 winters i find it a real step backward. At one time it was free, then $1 a bag for one year escalating to $***@. Riddle me this: if you eliminate the service (and fee) and don't eliminate any positions how much does the deficit go down? Also it will increase the congestion in the lounge and can you picture senior citizens jockeying their bags down the halls of the sleepers?

I am going to ride #1 with my son in October. We are flying into Toronto around 1pm. What are our options for our bags while we explore the city?

Ira Silverman
Rockville MD

[Jon Calon jon.yg-E/[e-mail] [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]]

Hi Ira,

I tend to agree with you except for one caveat. If there are no other stations, including Winnipeg and Toronto that perform the service, it can lead to disappointment when people who got the service in Vancouver expect it to happen in Toronto and it doesn't happen.

If the staff are busy enough in Vancouver, then it's just something that doesn't happen and c'est la vie. I do have to wonder though. Where are the redcaps? These are the people who should be doing the job, everywhere. (well, at least the major stations. Amtrak doesn't have redcaps in places like Shelby, MT, just like there's nothing for VIA in Sioux Lookout, ON.)

As to your question about stashing your bags in Toronto: Talk to the folks at the VIA baggage desk in Union Station. I've checked my bags with them, for a small fee, to not have to lug them around.

Jon

Post by marcrail1-H+***@public.gmane.org [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]
I am going to ride #1 with my son in October. We are flying into Toronto around 1pm. What are our options for our bags while we explore the city?
Ira Silverman
Rockville MD

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[Fred Mills [e-mail] [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]]

Red Caps were abolished years ago.....

Fred Mills


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Posted by: Fred Mills <millsf-***@public.gmane.org>
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[llholmes1948-/[e-mail] [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]]

Let's make sure that we stifle any creative attempts to provide some extra service to passengers.


Sounds like the hallmark of a very successful business operation.


Lyman Holmes

[Tom Box [e-mail] [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]]

Post by Fred Mills millsf-***@public.gmane.org [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]
Red Caps were abolished years ago.....

Less than one year ago in Montreal and Toronto.
<http://www.unifor4000.com/13nov11_011via_job_cuts.html>

Just a week ago, there was a complaint on Twitter from a passenger
who had asked a VIA employee sitting at a desk behind a sign saying
"Red Caps/Porteurs" (she included a photo of the sign) for help
with her bags. The employee told her (accurately, I suppose, since
there are no more red caps, but unhelpfully) that wasn't his job.

Tom Box
tbox at ncf dot ca
Port Hope, ON, Canada


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Posted by: Tom Box <tbox-***@public.gmane.org>
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If the red caps are gone who assists passengers in wheel chairs or the elderly who can't manage their bags? I came into Montreal and it seemed like there were employees all over the platform but I didn't pay close attention to what they were doing.

As far as the issue of inconsistency there is a solution. Add the service to other major stations notably Montreal, Halifax and Toronto. Given the absence of red caps it would seem to make the service even more valuable.

Ira Silverman
Rockville MD

[[e-mail] [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]]

Post by marcrail1-H+***@public.gmane.org [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]
If the red caps are gone who assists passengers in wheel chairs
or the elderly who can't manage their bags?

According to this story from a year ago, the 24 red caps at
Montreal Central and Toronto Union were going to be replaced by
14 new station attendants, "helping people with a variety of
needs, including any mobility challenges." I can't say how well
that has worked out in practice.


<http://goo.gl/eFkEiw> or
<http://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/2013/07/23/via_rail_to_scrap_red_cap_porters_that_help_people_in_wheelchairs.html>


Tom Box
tbox at ncf dot ca
Port Hope, ON, Canada

[F Squash fallsquashpumpkin-/[e-mail] [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]]

Yah. Very good.
Everyone does know that REd Caps were abolished years ago.
(Or months ago in MTRL and TRTO)

I think this is more recent than that. Topic. On the Canadian that is. Today's Canadian. The one that is questionable regsrding the actual value of Our Ten dollar bill.
When the train is reducEd to mere twice weekly ; ten dollars equals 6.333333333334$



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Post by Fred Mills millsf-***@public.gmane.org [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]
Red Caps were abolished years ago.....
Fred Mills
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